State Delegation Excited to See GLX Project Move Forward

BOSTON – This past week the MBTA Green Line Extension project team opened the remaining two bids for the Green Line Extension construction and named a Joint Venture of GLX Constructors the winning team, with a price offering of $954,618,600.

Each bid came in below budget and included all six additive options to the program: station canopies, elevators, public art, additional community path access, the community path extension to Lechmere Station, and an enhanced vehicle maintenance facility. On Monday, the Fiscal and Management Control Board will be asked to accept staff’s recommendation of GLX Constructors for a total contract price of $1,082,118,600, which includes the proposal price, all six additive options, and MBTA contingency.

“Congratulations to GLX Constructors on putting forward an exciting proposal. I am grateful to the MBTA and the project team for their hard work to make this a reality,” said Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville). “None of this would have happened without the support of the cities of Somerville, Cambridge and Medford, all my colleagues in the state delegation, and most importantly the steadfast work of community advocates, who for years have pushed this project forward while setbacks piled up. We look forward to the beginning of full construction next spring.”

“I’m delighted that the steadfast support of the Somerville community for the GLX, and including the Path, has borne fruit,” said Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville). “It is right and just that Somerville will see this long-delayed project built in its entirety. It’s a tribute to Somerville, its grassroots activism, and the solidarity of elected leaders with the people of this city. Now, let’s make sure that those people are not displaced by others who want the benefits of mass transit.”

“Thank you to the MBTA and the GLX Project Team for their hard work getting to this point, and congratulations to GLX Constructors on their successful bid,” said Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville). “I look forward to continued work and collaboration with our state delegation, the project team, and our ever-dedicated advocates, without whom we wouldn’t have gotten this far. I am excited about this positive development putting us one step closer to constructing the Green Line Extension.”

“I am delighted that the top-ranked bid will include vital project components such as the Somerville Community Path Extension between East Somerville and Lechmere Stations, along with platform canopies, additional accessibility elevators, and other important items,” Representative Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge) added. “Both the Green Line Extension and Somerville Community Path Extension are now closer than ever to becoming a reality for our constituents, and much of the credit should go to the tireless efforts of advocates, stakeholders, and officials who are all working together to see this project through to a successful completion.”

“I look forward to the benefits this Green Line Extension will bring to the cities of Medford and Somerville,” said Representative Paul J. Donato (D-Medford).

“This is an exciting moment for the Green Line Extension Project and I congratulate the cities of Medford, Cambridge, and Somerville. This moment would not have been possible without the strong advocacy of my legislative colleagues and transit advocates throughout the region. I am looking forward to the completion of this essential project,” said Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington).

According to the Boston Globe, Lynn Weissman, co-chair of the Friends of the Community Path, said “the Green Line’s been halted before, and the community path has been found and lost…we’re hoping it’s been found again. But until [construction] begins, we will wait with cautious optimism.”

GLX Constructors is comprised of the following firms: Fluor Enterprises, Inc., The Middlesex Corp., Herzog Contracting Corp., and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. For more information on the Green Line Extension Project, please visit the Project’s webpage.